Northwest Hospital Sleep Center

Each year, some 38,000 cardiovascular deaths are attributed to sleep apnea or cessation of breathing. Sleep disorders, which affect some four percent of the general population, prevent you from getting a full night's sleep and deprive the body of time to recover from each day's activities. Comprehensive, state-of-the-art sleep laboratories at Northwest Hospital, which are staffed by certified technicians and supervised by a board-certified medical director, are utilized to diagnose sleep disorders for patients 18 and older.

Common Symptoms of Sleep Disorders

Daytime sleepiness

Frequent nighttime urination

High blood pressure

Irritability or moodiness

Loud, irregular snoring

Memory loss

Morning headaches

Poor concentration

The Sleep Disorders Center at Northwest Hospital is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and staffed by physicians who are board-certified in sleep medicine. The state-of-the-art center offers comfortable, hotel-like, private rooms, each with its own private bathroom and a Select ComfortTM Sleep Number(R) bed. Sleep studies are performed seven days a week.

Types of Sleep Disorders

Sleep Apnea
Apnea sufferers stop breathing for 10 to 60 seconds or longer and often awake with a loud snort or jerking motion when they gasp for air, resulting in disruptions to sleep several times during the night and contributing to increased fatigue and sleepiness during the day.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea
The airway in the back of the throat collapses and prevents oxygen from entering the lungs and reaching the bloodstream, causing periods of apnea.

Central Sleep Apnea
The brain may fail to signal the chest muscles to breathe, causing periods of apnea.

Gastroesophageal Reflex
Gastric acid may back up into the esophagus, disturbing sleep and causing you to awaken several times during the night.

Insomnia
Nightmares, night terrors, sleep walking and bedwetting may all contribute to complaints of insomnia.

Narcolepsy
Excessive daytime sleepiness may occur, despite a full night's sleep. Uncontrollable sleep attacks during the day may last minutes or hours.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Sleep disorders can usually be diagnosed through a single sleep study, although additional studies are sometimes needed to confirm findings. Sleep studies are available at Northwest between 8:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. seven days per week. Depending on the type and severity of apnea, you can get help through:

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), a small machine that blows air into the nose through a nasal mask and keeps the airway from collapsing.

Dental appliances

Surgery

Weight loss

What Happens During A Sleep Study

Upon arrival at the Sleep Center, a technologist explains the testing procedure and conducts a detailed sleep, wakefulness and neurological history. You then prepare for bed in the usual manner. Electrodes and sensors are applied to your head, face and legs. The sensors applied to the head and legs show if the sleep pattern is disturbed. A sensor taped to the nose measures airflows from the nose and mouth to identify any breathing abnormalities that occur during sleep. The sensors on your chest monitor heart rate, rhythm and breathing effort. A sensor attached to the finger monitors oxygen levels.

State-of-the-art, computer-assisted devices monitor sleeping patterns and levels of CPAP in therapeutic trials. Most patients are fully rested and able to work the next day following the sleep study.

For More Information

To learn more about the Sleep Disorders Center and if you qualify for a sleep study, call 410-701-4559.